Apparatus for cleaning articles.



E, L. COUCH. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ARTICLES. APPLIOATION IILED'NOV. 19, 1912.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

, in connection withthe solution (a mixture compounded by mixing carbonate of soda I L'a'luminum 40%, tin4O /O, lead 10% and an- UTED STATES ATENT; OFFICE.

nLBEntr n. coccn, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, sssrenoa T0 sinvnanasn COMPANY INC.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

Application filed November 19,1912. Eerial No. 732,211.

Articles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide adevice of a ciass specified,'which has features of novelty and advantage' Figure 1 is EPQI'SPECUV? view of the various parts'of the apparatus. Fig, 2 isza section of the apparatus showing the various parts in the positions which 1: when in use. Fig.3 is a perspective view of the plate which is used inthe receptacle.

This apparatus is to be used in connection with a solution for cleaning diamonds, glass, and various metals, such as gold, nickel, brass, copper, etc, and particularly tarnished silver. It is' generally employed and carbonate of calcium in the proportion of 11 parts, by weight, oi calcium to one part of soda and to each ounce ofthis mixture adding two quarts of Water) claimed in Letters'Patent No. 674,254 Processes of cleaning silver, in which it is stated that this solution is to be used in a proper receptacle. This proper receptacle I find,

after many years of experiment, to be most advantageously made in the following way: The receptacle 1 maybe of any material.

also use a basket or drainer 2, which. may be of any material and made in any manner suitable for the purpose. I use a plate 3 in the bottom of the'rcceptacle. It may be placed either in the basket 2,-or underneath, or in any other position, as. convenience dictates, and the articles to be cleaned 7 are lili then put in the basket and immersed in the.

solution. It is essential that there be a metallic connection between the plate and the articles to be cleaned either by placing them in engagement with each other or by using a metallic basket, or in any other desirable manner. With that exception their relative positions. in the solution are immaterial.

It is convenient at times, when it is desired to use the plate inside the basket, to have said plate constructed with the flange t, which surrounds it with the exception ey occupy- 6. This construction raises the late somewhat from the bottom of the has cot, and allows the same to be drained more easily.

It is found that when silver or other metals are immersed in this solution the tarnish that it is discontinued at each of the notches is removed byelectrolysis or chemical action, or in some other manner, and is deposited on the plate. After the apparatus as been useda number of times, the plate becomes oxidized and tarnished, the plate being one electrode, called usually the anode,

and the articles to be cleaned the other, and

thus a coating is formed over the plate wh1clr -thereforebecomes less active. It is for this reason that I find it more convenient to use a re1i1ovable plate in order that it may. 'be readily-cleaned. This plate I have constructed of various materials, and especlally of alununum, tin, lead, antimony,

andother metals. I find however from experiment that more 'than one of these metals maybe used to advantage in variouSpartialor complete combinations; The

referable combination is as follows timony 10%, these 'proportions being at times more or less varied. I produce this combination in its best form by fusing these metals, although they may be combined in any other manner. .This combination produces the mlost satisfactory results for the followin i'easdns :-I find that tin will give a satis actory chemical or electrical action and produceresults, but I find further'that aluminum combined with the tin gives a much more rapidaction, and will cause action .to take place in the solution at a lower temperature than that where tin is used alone.

The lead in the combination closes the pores and makes the mass more smooth and homogeneous, thus preventing the tarnish from penetrating into the plate, and for this reason making it more easy to clean. The

additionof antimony strengthens and hardens the plate, thus prolongingits life. Any of these metals may be omitted, or one or more combined in any particular form.

I prefer to use this apparatus in the way described above with the receptacle, plate and basket. The drainer, basket or inner receptacle may be composed of any material whatsoever so long as it is constructed suiliciently open to permitcf. the solution after immersion to be rapidly drained when the basket,'drainer, or inner receptacle is lifted out of the solution, and at the same time sufficiently closed that the articles to; be cleaned cannot pass or drop through the mesh m or openings; but I have found the most practical basket or drainer to be one made of perforated metal. I do not hoiw ever wish to confine myself to that'partichlar method alone. Many variationsof tl 'is apparatus are possible. I find however that it is preferable to use the apparatus as described above, having the receptacle and basket made of material which will not receive the tarnished coating, the plate alone being oxidized or tarnished, the plate being easily cleaned.- I find as .one variation that the plate may be made of any substance, plated or coated With the above mentioned combi nation, and of course this same method may be applied to the receptacle and basket where they are used Without the plate.

Claims:

1. In an apparatus for cleaning articles, an

' anode in the form of a plate forming one electrode and formed of a fused combination embodying tin and lead, for use in connection with an electrolytic solution and articles to be cleaned, the said articles forming the other electrode.-

2. Apparatus for. cleaning articles com prising a receptacle to be used in connection with electrolytic solution and articles to be cleaned, a plate, said plate forming one elecver com risin a receptacle an electrol tic solution, a plate, said plate being the anode, and the articles to be cleaned the cathode, said plate being a fused combination of aluminum 40%, tin a091,, lead 10%, antimony 10%.

6. In an apparatus for cleaning articles, I

an anode forming one electrode and formed of a combinationof aluminum, tin, lead and antimony for 'use in connection with electrolytic solution and articles to be cleaned, said articles forming the other electrode.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ELBERT L. COUCH. Witn sses:

no. HOWARD DEAN, R. W. THOMPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Waahingtoml'i. C. 

